Machine for feeding price tag strips



F. KOHNLE 2268405 MACHINE FOR FEEDING PRICE TAG STRIPS Dec. 30, 1941.

`Filed May 4. 1959 INVENTOR.

Mrz@- [JW/wmmg Patented Dec. 30, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,268,405 MACHINE Foa FE'EIJING PRICE TAG srmrs Application May 4, 1939, Serial N0. 271,807

4 Claims. (Cl. 271-25) This invention relates to improvements in mechanism of the type used for feeding strips of price marking tags through a marking machine for successively delivering the respective tags or tickets to a printing and severing station. A type of ticket which the present mechanism is adapted to feed is disclosed in the copending application, divisional of this application, which divisional application bears a Serial lgilriber 314,115, and was filed on January 16,

As exemplary of the type of machine to which the present improvements are directed, reference may be had to the prior patent issued to me May 1, 1928, No. 1,667,810, in Which the tag iS attached to the merchandise by means of an ordinary or common straight pin. Reference may also be had to my previously issued patent, No. 1,709,354, issued April 16, 1929, wherein the machine delivers a strip of tags equipped, as to each tag, with a fastener such as a wire staple or string or wherein the reverse side of the strip is coated with adhesive as the means for applying the same to the article. In this last type of machine, the tickets are applied by hand after printing and severance from the strip in the machine.

In these and other previous types of machines, the strips of tickets have been fed through a guideway. A pressure means has been provided for pressing against one longitudinal edge of the strip for urging the opposite longitudinal edge into contact with the side surface of the guideway. This pressure has been imparted by means of a spring. The result has been that the guiding pressure increased with the increase in the width of the strip of tickets. Accordingly, for comparatively large tags, the pressure has been excessive and has retarded or placed undue drag on the feed of the strip. This resistance has interfered with the proper operation of the feeding instrumentality either causing it to slip from engagement with the notches of the strip or to mar the tickets by undue pressure. Particularly has this been true of tickets made of lighter paper.

It has been the object of the present inventor to provide an apparatus for feeding strips of tags of relatively different widths wherein the pressure applied upon the strip, for the purpose of maintaining its alignment as it passes to the printing head and severing means, is maintained without regard to the width of the strip or size of tags.

Another problem arises in the feeding or dewhen the strip has been fed up to the last few tickets. When the last few tickets are being delivered to the printing station, there is a tendency for the strip to shift in the guideway and get out of alignment. Accordingly, it has been a further object of this inventor to provide a feeding means which is effective for accurately and steadily feeding the last few tags of the strip wherein those tickets arrive at the printing station in the correct position in the guideway for printing and severance.

It has been the object of the present inventor in the aforesaid copending application to provide a strip of tickets which will cooperate with the improved feeding means and may vary in width and yet maintain the same cooperative action with the feeding mechanism. The strip of tickets is provided with a row of apertures located at a definite distance from one longitudinal edge of the strip regardless of its width. These apertures are successively engaged by a finger of the feeding mechanism, which not only has an advancing action but a lateral or aligning action for causing the side of the strip of tickets to lie in snug contact with the guiding rail. Thus, the pressure is uniform regardless of the width, since the nger has a uniform action on all tags. Furthermore, it has been provided that this finger may be supplemental as to the advancing motion of the strip. Toward this end, the strip is arranged or notched for engagement by means of primary strip advancing means operating in full synchronism or unity with the aligning finger.

Other objects and certain advantages will be more fully apparent from a description of the drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a strip of tickets of large size.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of a portion of a strip of tickets of smaller size.

Figure 3 is a top plan View of a portion of a marking machine illustrating the improved strip feeding mechanism.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4 4. Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an end View further illustrating the engagement of the respective fingers.

In the marking machines of the past as well as this, the ticket strip is intermittently advanced along a supporting guideway. The tickets are thus consecutively delivered to position beneath a printing device. The printing device is operated in synchronism with the feeding means so as to print when the strip is at rest at the end livery of strips of tickets. This problem -occurs of a feeding stroke. Usually the printing `head carries or actuates a cutter. The cutter simultaneously with the printing severs the leading or foremost ticket from the strip, whereupon it is dispensed.

The ticket strip is indicated at 5. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, notches 6, are cut into its longitudinal edges. These notches define the ticket shape. In other words, the knife or cutter severs the tickets on 'a line coinciding with aligned notches. Furthermore, the notches provide shoulders which are engaged by a feeding finger or fingers reciprocated longitudinally of the strip for feeding the strip in each forward stroke. Each forward stroke advances the strip an appropriate distance for stationing a ticket beneath the printing head. The feeding finger or fingers release their hold upon the strip in the return stroke.

In the wider type of strip (see Figure 1)` an additional feeding slot 1 is provided in alignment with the edge slots 6 or coinciding with the line of severance. The strip, generally speaking, includes, in addition to the feed notches or slots, a slot or perforation 8, located within the body of each ticket. As shown, this opening or perforation is disposed preferably centrally of the width of the ticket. Its location from the edge of the ticket or strip is uniform for all sizes of tickets. Accordingly, a standard feeding mechanism, employed in the marking machine, operates uniformly on each strip inserted therein regardless of the size of the ticket or width of the strip.

Upon reference to Figures 3 to 5 inclusive it will be noted that the strip in its travel along the table or guideway I has a side or longitudinal edge II bearing and guided against Aa side wall I2 of the guideway. Y A carriage I3 is slidably supported upon a rail (not shown) as a part of the machine. The main feed finger I4 is pivotally supported upon the carriage on `a horizontally disposed pin I5. The carriage includes a laterally projecting stud I6, engaged by the upper end of a cam operated lever (not shown). The only parts of the machine concerned in the present invention are those forming the feeding and guiding means for the strip. Accordingly, the disclosure of the machine does not go beyond the guideway and the feeding carriage structure.

The feed finger I4 extends forwardly and is held downwardly against a strip by means of a coil spring I'I under compression between the feed nger and the underside of the carriage. The feed finger, as disclosed, includes spaced portions I8, I9. The downwardly projected relatively sharp forward edges of the fingers are in alignment and successively engage the cross notches 6 or slots 'I in the strip. In the instance of the narrow strip, these fingers engage the notches 6 in the respective edges of the strip. In the wider type of strip, that finger portion I9, disposed the greater distance away from the longitudinal guide edge, engages in the cross slot 1, disposed intermediate the strip. This finger is of considerable width and thereby assists in maintaining the strip at the proper alignment.

Thus, it may be seen that the forward end of the feed finger is bifurcated. A lateral pressure applying finger 2I is pivotally mounted on the top surface of the main finger on a pivot pin 22. This finger swings substantially in a horizontal plane. Its forward end is downwardly projected to provide a tip 23 of approximately the same size as the apertures 8 in the respective tickets of the strip. This finger 2lv is engaged Cil against the side of a rail 24, in position for alignment or registry with the successive apertures 8. When the forward ends of the main feeding finger I4 are in the cross slots or notches, the lateral pressure finger 2| is engaged with the aperture of that tag just behind the engaged notches.

A relief notch 25 1s provided in the side of the rail engaged by the finger. This relief notch is located so that, as the ticket just ahead of the engaged notch cornes up to the printing station, the finger may move laterally toward the rail under the influence of a coil spring 26. The coil spring is under compression between the outer finger extension I9 and the lateral pressure finger itself. The spring is centered or seated within a bore 2l in the finger 'and upon a centering pin 28 in the side of the laterally urged finger. The notch has a gradual curvature for permitting gradual application of spring pressure to the strip.

Thus it will be apparent that, when the strip is being advanced in the last phase of its movement to place a ticket in position beneath the printing head, it is held firmly against the side of the guideway. Not only do the aligned feeding fingers tend to maintain the squared relationship of the tickets, but the laterally urged finger performs for this purpose as well. The structure is particularly useful when the last portion of the strip is being fed and when there is more tendency for disalignment, due to the decreased length of the longitudinal edge.

Now, whenthe last few tickets are brought up, the strip being of greatly reduced length, there is considerable tendency for the strip to shift resulting in disaligned printing and causing severance in disalignment with the notches. Even with the strip length reduced to two tickets, it is obvious that it is rigidly held in aligned position for the printing and severing operation. Each ticket in the strip length is firmly engaged for delivery and guidance through the means provided herein.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A machine for feeding a strip of tags, comprising a guideway providing at least one side edge, a tag feeding carriage, a feeding finger pivotally mounted on the carriage, spring means for urging said finger against a tag strip being fed through the guideway, said tag strip including cross slots defining the tag portions, said finger adapted to successively engage aligned slots, an aligning finger pivotally mounted on said feeding finger and adapted to swing laterally, said finger including a point adapted to engage in the apertures in the tag strip as they successively register therewith, spring means for urging said aligning finger laterally so as to urge the tag strip against the side rail of the guideway, and a rail normally holding said aligning finger in alignment for registration with the apertures.

2. A machine for feeding a strip of tags, comprising a guideway providing a side wall, a reciprocably mounted feeding finger adapted to traverse the guideway for feeding, a tag strip including cross slots defining the tag portions, said finger adapted to successively engage the slots, an aligning finger pivotally mounted on said feeding finger adapted to swing laterally, said finger including a point adapted to Aengage in successively registered apertures in the tag strip for exerting lateral pressure on the strip,

and means for urging said aligning iinger laterally. f

3. In a machine for feeding a notched stripVv of tags including a guideway, a feeding unit adapted to engage the notches of the strip, and

one side of its guideway as it is fed therethrough.vv

4. A machine for feeding a strip of tags,l cornprising a gudeway providing a side edge, a feeding nnger, means for urging said finger against a tag strip being fed through the guideway, said tag strip including slots defining the tag portions, said nger adapted to successively engage the slots, an aligning nger urged laterally, said finger including a point adapted to engage successively in apertures in the tag strip, and a rail normally restraining said aligning iinger but relieved to permit the aligning nger to exert pressure at the close of the feeding stroke.

FREDERICK KOHNLE. 

